“One day I was on the train, and felt as though I'd forgotten myself. There I was, riding to work on a Monday morning, thinking about projects, deadlines, and emails, when my heart was crying out for music.” - Chanda Rule.

What do you get when you mix spiritual melodies, lyrical grace, jazzy vocals, and R&B? You get a woman who carries a magnificent voice that explodes with clarity and beauty that is bound to fill your spirit to its rim with musical serenity...her name is Chanda Rule. I am so excited to feature jazz songstress Chanda Rule on ymib. I immediately fell in love with her clarity and sound and got goosebumps (the sure sign of good music) while listening to her album "I to Speak of A River", especially track #13 entitled: "Everything Must Change". Her voice and tone are just simply amazing.

Born in the “Windy City” Chanda always carried a passion for music. She attended Howard University and graduated with a journalism degree, and although she worked in corporate America, her heart yearned to sing; and lovers of music are so glad that she let her heart be heard. “There is something about rhythm and melody that can always find a smile, throw a head back with laughter, or even tears...it transcends languages and breaks through cultural and racial barriers.” Chandas music blends a lot of spiritual lyrics with eloquent jazz rhythms and makes for a wonderful sound. Her music reflects her life...her passion, and as an Interfaith minister and Ritual leader and member of the “Circle of Soul”, which is a collective of singers, dancers, artists, interfaith ministers and yoginis who come together in song, movement and creativity to honor the earth, Chanda is touching those near and far with her passion for life, health, and spirituality. She holds workshops that include “The Breath Chant Flow”, which fuses power yoga, chant, and meditation, and “The Sing In”, which combines breathing, movement, chanting, call & response, and more. However, my favorite workshop of hers would be the “Like Water Womens Circle”. Here the circle of Sisters combine rituals, meditations, journaling, and life experiences in a monthly gathering and includes themes of: Creating Sacred Space, Breaking Down Barriers, I am Opening, & Treat yourself.

Chanda recently opened for India.Arie at Chicago's Peace Jam, legendary recording artist Angela Bofill at New Jersey's Summer in the Zone jazz festival, and also opened for Grammy award winning recording artist Amel Larrieux at The Au Bar and Jazz Club in New York. Her love of performing arts led her to compose music for several dance companies and post-modern dance videos that aired on the Manhattan Networks.

We chat a bit with Chanda as she shares her motivation for going for her dreams and her life inspirations!

ymib: What was the inspiration behind the name of your current album title "I Too Speak of a River"?

Chanda: The title was inspired by Langston Hughes’ “A Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Langston speaks about a life force that connects the past and the present… something ancient, and something new, perfectly penned as a River, and symbolically connecting two bodies of consciousness, or water, making them one. This piece made me want to talk about the Rivers I’ve known too! I wanted to breathe a new life force into some old songs, telling a new story of a new generation and it’s soul’s quest for freedom. So my arrangements and re-workings of Negro Spirituals became my “poem” entitled “I Too Speak of a River.”

ymib: Favorite affirmation or inspirational quote?

Chanda: I have two. I’ve loved this first one for a while: “The best way to live is to live like water,” a philosophy that comes from the Tao Te Ching. The second is a newer favorite by the Persian poet Hafez stating: “Even after all this time the Sun never says to the Earth ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the Whole Sky”

ymib: Something New You Would Like to Learn?

Chanda: I would like to learn to teach Jivamukti style Yoga, which is a type of Hatha yoga. I find it to be absolutely fabulous, healing and have recently added it to my mornings. I’d love to fuse it with music and teach yoga and sound together.

ymib: What was the transition like for you when making the jump from corporate America to music, and what would you say was the hardest part of taking that step?

Chanda: The transition was pretty gradual. I left a full-time position for temp-work (which actually paid more!) and started taking classes and auditioning. Since I was new to the “artsy scene” I didn’t know how stressful or cut-throat things were “supposed” to be. I was having fun, and just happy to be following my dreams! The hardest part was breaking the news to my family, who had no idea that I ever wanted to do anything artistic at all!

ymib: What has been the most memorable place that you have visited thus far & Why?

Chanda: Hands down…Siberia. I still remember riding through the TUNDRA in an old Volkswagen van having a flashback to 4th grade Social Studies. We saw pictures of the tundra, but I never thought I’d EVER see one! A few years ago. I performed a concert in Norilsk, which is the Northernmost city in the world and located in Siberia. It was cold as heck, but the people were the warmest I’ve ever met. After the concert, we sang and danced in the concert hall restaurant until the morning.

ymib: If you could only offer 2 pieces of advice to another woman, what would that advice be?

Chanda: Feed your soul and stay open to receiving life’s many blessings.

ymib: When and/or how did you know that you wanted to be an Interfaith Minister & what do you hope to achieve in your community/life with this title?

Chanda: I come from a family of ministers but never thought I’d actually become one! My quest to live my own life as free as I can led me down the path of Interfaith ministry. It was part of the learning of myself. I finished my formal studies four years ago and am just now starting to see what it means for my life. The joy of Interfaith ministry is the practice of being open to ideas and ways of life that are different than your own. I hope to share a vision of unity, and to spread a message of hope and personal freedom through music.

ymib: What do you think is the most common characteristic that most of those who listen to your music have in common?

Chanda: That’s a good question! And hard because it’s such a diverse group of folks! I think on average the people have a love for music that goes beyond hearing a pretty voice or feeling the groove and grind. Most people that listen to my music talk about the spirit of the music and how it makes their soul move.

ymib: Your music contains a lot of jazz and gospel, how would you describe your music and what style do you hope your next album to be in?

Chanda: Jazz and gospel are both styles that take on a ton of forms. I love this about them! You never know what kind of groove a jazz or gospel musician will take you in to. I call it Nu-Jazz. I like this term because Nu-Jazz is associated with having no rules! My next album… I’ve been studying lots of chants from around the world. It will be interesting to see how they will develop!